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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, I want to say that it was refreshing to read a novel based in the trucking world. I could totally relate to the story. Being a trucker’s wife can suck, but reading about the feelings of everyone on the road was insightful, even being a fiction book. Dan is dealing with a lot. Getting found out for not having a license, having dyslexia; and trying to help his daughter. Toss in Jake and the feelings he develops and the antagonists Troy and Steve…. This book was remarkable. As I sad, the author wrote almost as if they had experienced some of it. Totally realistic story. My emotions were all over the place with this story. Two people trying to deal with hard feelings and baggage. All they want to do is live in peace. You have to read this story, it will touch you. It is M/M, not my usual genre but the story could be anything and it still touches human motion. The ending of the book got me right in the feelers. This is a new author for me. I hope to read more.

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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Carrie Reed

The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was very enjoyable. Not only were there steamy scenes but really raw and heartbreaking moments. I both loved and hated that this story shows what this gay man goes through for simply being himself. Dan stands up for Jake even though he is confused about his own feelings and is very upset that someone would have to go through that. I really enjoyed watching Dan realize his own feelings and tell Jake how he really feels, he may not be able to promise forever, but he can live in the right now. It was also nice to get a small glimpse into the day of a trucker, I like how this was all happening within a weeks time so it just felt current. Wonderful MM romance.

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The Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber – Review by Tonya Merritt

The Summer I Went CrazyThe Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book made me mad but not because of the author or the story but of the raw real life manner in which everyone handled the assault of young Claire. This story is well written, very life-like at aspects but in others it’s new ideas and shows a new thought process. Ben saw something horrible at a party, now he has found new friends and is trying to make it alright but is he losing his mind? Reading the epilogue at the beginning you aren’t sure you understand but by the end when you reread the epilogue, it definitely phases you. I had so many good emotions that brought tears.

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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Tonya Merritt

The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book with a male relationship with sexual scenes. I’m not sure it is something I’d go out of my way to read a whole genre of but definitely thinks everyone should try a new book at least once, you never know what you may be into. The story itself had everything you look for in a book; love, family, fights, and real world issues. It was well written and had the right amount of detail. Dan is trying to get pay for his daughter’s college when an annoyed cop pulls him over causing a chain of events to occur. Now he is stuck with a homosexual riding partner so he can get his CDLs. Will Dan learn new things about himself? Will his daughter’s college be paid for? Will Dan find love in the place he never knew existed?

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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Kerry Carr

The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting read for me. The author does an amazing job of allowing the reader into Dan’s head and you really get to understand all the confusing feelings and emotions he goes through as he discovers his feelings towards Jake are moving to something deeper than just work mates. Dan is a hard character to like at first with his thoughts and feelings towards Jake being very vocal and not in a positive way. Dan is hard work and sometimes hard to like. Jake on the other hand is a caring soul. He embraces his sexuality and isn’t ashamed of it.
As they journey together they learn more about each other and circumstances bring them closer together than either of them thought possible. Will Jake turn out to be the missing piece in Dan’s life without him even realising he was looking in the wrong place all along?
This book is beautiful to read and see the characters growth through out really made this book a great captivating read

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His Protector by Sara Vinduska – Review by Katie Matthews

His ProtectorHis Protector by Sara Vinduska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an introduction to this new author! His Protector was a wonderful read and in all honestly such a refreshing read. I loved the storyline for this book and it really was so well written. The relationship between the two main characters was so genuine and believable. I think given the plot a slow burn worked perfectly, I think anything else wouldn’t have felt right and I’m so glad the author chose to write their relationship that way, The suspense that ran through the story was great and my attention was definitely kept the whole way through.
This really was a great read and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author again in the future!

@katiem
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The Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Summer I Went CrazyThe Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an author that I never hesitate to pick up. I have enjoyed reading her books from the first one I picked up. This one is no different. It is a shorter story that packs a punch for sure. A story where it will bring emotional characters and suspense together. A story where there is a witness and one phone call made forty years later that could change things. I found this book to be well written, engaging and hard to put down. A fast paced story that kept me coming back for more. There are twists and turns that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The plot has great growth throughout which made the story easy to read. This is an entertaining story that I highly recommend.

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Review by @bjwagner

Falling for You (Buckeye Falls Book 2) by Libby Kay – Review by Katie Matthews

Falling for You (Buckeye Falls, #2)Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to pick up the second book in this series and it didn’t disappoint! I fell in love with CeCe and Evan straight away – they were both such relatable and down to earth characters, very much so like the characters in book 1. CeCe was hurt by what had happened in her past so think it’s perfectly acceptable that she is so independent and has her walls up to try and protect herself from being hurt again. I knew as soon as CeCe and Evan met he would be the one to heal her and show her how lovely a relationship can be, he was such a true gentleman and I just adored him! I also loved the community feel in this book, all of the characters both main and secondary were lovely!
This really was a beautiful story, well written and with amazing characters. I would highly recommend it and I can’t wait for more from this author!!

@katiem
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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. I never hesitate to pick up one of her books. They are full of laughs and romance. I enjoy how she brings her stories to life with her creative writing skills. This book is no different. The characters pulled me into their world from the start. They are connectable and added so much to the story. They made me laugh at times and crazy at others. They have great chemistry and growth throughout the story. This is a story where a business needs to be saved but these characters may find that the business is not the only thing that is worth something. I really enjoyed these characters and how they made the story easy to read. This is a story you don’t want to miss. I highly recommend this book and this author.

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Review by @bjwagner

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Katie Matthews

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really enjoyable children’s book and one that would be a great introduction to fantasy for younger readers. The story was really easy to follow and read. It would definitely get young imaginations going as the author really did well with the descriptive language. I could easily imagine what things looked like and even imagined what some of the characters would sound like. I liked that there were chapters in this story and would be perfect for children to read before bed at night.
The main character Princess Zarina was actually a really great character progression wise, as her story evolved so did she as a character.
Overall a great story and on I would definitely recommend for young readers.

@katiem
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Echoing Hearts (The Echo Series Book 1) by C.R. Alam – Review by Barbara Bohls

Echoing Hearts (Book 1 of The Echo Series)Echoing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has everything from drama, some sassiness, and romance. The book is the first in the series by this author. I was drawn in by the synopsis of what the book is about. I love a good feisty book. This story did not disappoint. The main characters from the beginning are real sassy towards each other but yet they have this independence to do things their way which makes it even better. I am a sucker for strong lead characters. Going through what threading female did growing up, it would make anyone jaded when looking at life. This is where most of that sassiness that I love comes form. She is used to doing things on her own to get things done. Meanwhile, the leading male character has had a relatively easy lifestyle compared to the leading female. However, they both bring their own hurts for the past to what they are working with now. They are reluctant to even consider a relationship because of those hurts but like any true romance story they overcome those obstacles. This book had me laughing out loud during certain parts and swooning with others. It does start out a little slow in my opinion, like it is slowing building into what the climax of the book. Normally that bothers me but this time I felt like it needed to start slow for the reader to fully grasp what the characters have bene through. I would recommend taking a day to read this book because you wont be disappointed. It is a true slow burn romance that will have your emotions all over the place while reading.
Reviewed by: @bbohls

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Dr. Anya Schultz

Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1)Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After “Night Hawke” left you on a cliffhanger, of sorts, it was totally worth it for “Ruthless Hawke”. I really loved book one in this series. This book starts 5 years after ‘Night Hawke’ with Issac (aka Nolan) in court working for his family’s businesses as their lawyer. After court that day he gets an emergency text from the family to get over to his dad’s office. On the other side of the story, Mina (aka Jack) is on her way to New Orleans to “hide” with a family friend of her father’s that she has never met. Her mother is Donne in Chicago and threats have been made against the family. Until the threat is handled they want Mina in a place no one would look. While not trying to give too much away, you come to see very quickly how Nolan and Jack will reunite after these 5 years. Two people who have been obsessed with each other, in their own minds, but never thought they will ever see each other again are now going to be emotionally jolted. The man she has been dreaming about is now her protector. Needless to say, Issac is pretty pissed after how they parted, but there are many complications coming their way. Can Issac handle being around this woman who has haunted him for so long, and can he keep her safe from this threat? Will the secrets the two have been keeping come out and affect the situation? Will they be able to keep their hands off each other? It is definitely a great story projected just what a small world it is out there.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was fast-moving and interesting, the characters were loveable, and the surprises along the way were great. As for the characters, these two together are just magic on paper. Issac is a confident, over-protective, possessive (in an endearing way), smart, and overall sexy character. Mina is a strong, but shelter woman. She hasn’t been given much freedom in her life, but she still is a dreamer, realist, creative, talented female character. The two have great chemistry even when they are fighting. The intimate scenes, while it is mainly a plot-driven book, are amazing. He is a dirty talker which helps you truly visualize the aspects that are happening between the two of them. The one thing that was a little difficult is that there are a lot of characters introduced and it was really hard to keep track, but props to the writer she kind of include the difficulty in the characters remembering family too. I am excited to read other books that come out in this series.

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Echoing Hearts (The Echo Series Book 1) by C.R. Alam – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

Echoing Hearts (Book 1 of The Echo Series)Echoing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great world building! This is definitely an original story. I loved the details given in the storyline it was like I was there. The characters are amazing and have incredible backstory’s. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this author.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Brandy Vaughn

Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book has a map of the lands and is useful to reference in the novel. I appreciated all the thought that went into creating the fantasy story and the characters were realistic. In the beginning, it was confusing about the non-binary character referring themselves as a they/them. This was the first story I’ve read with a non-binary character. It was interesting how the author explored the idea of gender within a society where gender was neutral. Once I figure that out, I could move past the confusion and enjoy the rest of the story. You begin in one world and end up in another. This was definitely a one of a kind book!

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Jamie Burns

Princess Zarina comes from a large family and is very selfish. She is going to have her royal advancement is approaching. In true Princess fashion she must have a magically beautiful dress, but little does she know, she should be careful what she wishes for. This enchanting dress is just the beginning of her adventure. This book is captivating from beginning to end. You will not be disappointed.

Real Movie Hero (Green Brotherhood: SEAL Team XII Book 2) by Debra Parmley – Review by Robin Rankin

Real Movie HeroReal Movie Hero by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Real Movie Hero (Green Brotherhood: SEAL Team XII Book 2)

The way Christie and Reed meet is anything but ideal but at the same time trauma can help bring two people together.

What starts out as one of the worst nights of her life ends up turning into a completely different story for the two of them.

I think Reed is my favorite so far, could be the Texas thing but I think it is more than that. Another short but interesting story about this SEAL team and can’t wait to see who falls next.

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls Book 2) by Libby Kay – Review by Daryian Lucas

Falling for You (Buckeye Falls, #2)Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.7/5 Stars
Buckeye Falls is the cutest little place! This book is so cute and gives me all the feels. I adored the first one and I adore this one. I love series that are about the same group of people but with a different main character. It’s so well written and so good. I can’t wait to read about Natalie in the next book!

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The Veil of Corruption (The Virus of Beauty Book 2) by C.B. Lyall Review by Noor Jivraj

The Veil of Corruption (The Virus of Beauty #2)The Veil of Corruption by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This sequel in the veil of beauty series was a great read and very enjoyable! I really enjoyed reading this book it kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not put it down! With a different and unique take on this fascinating world of witches and wizards you could only hope Wilf would prevail. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series and would recommend this boom to anyone looking for a unique fantasy and magical experience!

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Ashly Renner

Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1)Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the prequel to this book telling how Isaac and Mina met, so I was not surprised at all that I enjoyed this book too! The first book in the series jumps five years into the future from where the prequel left off, when Isaac and Mina met he was “Nolan” and she was “Jack” now they know who the other truly is and, surprise there was a baby produced from that first meeting so many years ago. Gwyn Mcname’s ability to tell a story that sucks you in and steals your ability to put her book down is wonderful, I love books that keep me vested!

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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Jade Brunton

Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and found myself disappointed when I couldn’t find the time to read it. This story was cute, fun and even had a small plot twist in it.
Cash and Hollis were adorable from start to finish. Their banter was fun to follow and made me gasp and laugh out loud. The family dynamic and the love for animals also had me hooked from the start. This was a good, fast, lighthearted easy read.
This was the first book that I read from this author, and I found myself wanting to know more about the other characters, which I was THRILLED to find out that I can because she wrote stories on some of them.

 

Reviewed By:@jaderockslife

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What Loretta’s Katydid did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Crystal Jimmo

What Loretta's Katydid didWhat Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my family’s 3rd Loretta book. This one is about the orange tree Loretta got and it has some insect problems. The steps that Loretta takes to make sure her orange tree doesn’t die before her science fair is amazing. It makes things easy for my 6 year old to understand and introduces him to other insects that are out there and what may be harmful to our plants and what we can do to help them stay healthy. The story was cute and very well written! I can’t wait to read more Loretta books to my kids!

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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Dawn Brown

Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in the mountains of North Carolina, two small town business owners have a rivalry going on. Cash’s brewery is just getting its legs when Hollis moves in next door. Her dog grooming business is at odds with the brewery for a multitude of reasons. When the Hollis and Cash start pranking each other, things go a little too far.
Opinion
The setting of this book is right up the road from me. Stewart does a great job emanating what a town in the mountains of NC would be like.
I personally enjoyed the scenes where the two main characters were fighting, not only each other but their own attraction to the other one. There were many places where I found myself laughing out loud at what happened.
Overall, I think that the best part of the book was the way the characters were described and the actions they took. I could imagine meeting people like the characters walking around town with a little vendetta on their mind against the other one.
I look forward to more books in this series.

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls Book 2) by Libby Kay- Review by Heather Knalls

Falling for You (Buckeye Falls, #2)Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CeCe is having a hard time since the Christmas Jubilee because she is starting to have feeling towards Evan. She doesn’t want to have feelings for him since they work together at the diner, but she knows there is something different about him. There is also a big hurdle coming to Buckeye Falls that has CeCe questioning whether to stay or run. Her ex boyfriend, Eric, is coming to Buckeye Falls for a food truck competition. What could possibly go wrong?

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Felicia Bates

Cry Baby: A Grump Sunshine Slow Burn Romantic Comedy (Pierce Brothers Book 4)Cry Baby: A Grump Sunshine Slow Burn Romantic Comedy by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cry Baby is the first book I’ve read by this author and obviously the first I’ve read of the Pierce Brothers series. This book read well without having read any books prior. Cry Baby was a refreshing rom com that handled loss and grief well. The characters were really well written and I loved to see the progression as the storyline unfolded. As always when I find a book series later in the game, I am really interested in reading more and learning about the tie in characters. I found yet another to add to my ever growing to be read pile. If you’re looking for a slow burn rom com with realistic and enjoyable characters, I recommend Cry Baby.

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Wendy Wary

Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers, #4)Cry Baby by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She did a fantastic job weaving together a realistic story with romance and tragedy and characters who are just beautifully human. I would love to see more authors tackle the use of therapy to heal from trauma as a way to help normalize it, and this book made great use of it without it overtaking the story. I am not a crier, but this book definitely had me in tears. Can’t wait to read more from this series and author!

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Frozen By Lies (Sleigh Riders Book 1) by Martha Sweeney – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

This is the first book in the Sleigh Rider Series!! I absolutely loved this book. It took me one day to read it, it is that good. Noelle Frost and Nicklaus Klaus come from two different clans who’ve apparently had a feud many years ago, yet no one knows what the feud was about. Can Noelle and Nickolas stop this feud together? You need to read it to find out!!!!  This is a journey that not everyone can ride in however I promise it is worth reading. I can’t wait to read book two and see what journey lies ahead in that one.

Frozen by Lies (Sleigh Riders #1)Frozen by Lies by Martha Sweeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Sleigh Rider Series!! I absolutely loved this book. It took me one day to read it, it is that good. Noelle Frost and Nicklaus Klaus come from two different clans who’ve apparently had a feud many years ago, yet no one knows what the feud was about. Can Noelle and Nickolas stop this feud together? You need to read it to find out!!!! This is a journey that not everyone can ride in however I promise it is worth reading. I can’t wait to read book two and see what journey lies ahead in that one.

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What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects Book #4) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes

What Loretta's Katydid didWhat Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 Stars

 

What Loretta’s Katydid Did is the fourth book in the Loretta’s Insects series by Lois Wickstrom. This is a fun children’s illustrated storybook full of interesting facts about insects, educational elements, a school science fair, various insects, and an entertaining bit of an adventure.
Loretta loves insects and this time her Grammie brings her an orange tree all the way from Florida. Loretta discovers that the tree has aphids which are killing the tree. But because Loretta loves all insects she just can’t bring herself to kill them. Then she finds a Katydid on her tree- and her aphid problem is solved. With her school science fair coming up, her new tree and her love of insects might just make a winning entry. What happens makes for a fun read.
This is not just a cute story, it also encourages children to learn while they read. I read this story with my grandson, but we wish the illustrations were better, as they are very simplistic and aren’t as bright, bold, or eye catching like a lot of Ms. Wickstrom’s other books- so they didn’t grab or hold his attention like some of her others have done. As with the other books in the series, the ‘new’ cover is great, but unfortunately the illustrations inside the book aren’t up to the same standard. With better illustrations, this would have been an even better story, in our opinion.
Loretta’s Insects series contains (so far):
-Ladybugs For Loretta (Book #1)
-Bee’s In Loretta’s Bonnet (Book #2)
-Loretta’s Caterpillar (Book #3)
-What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Book #4)
Happy reading!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Exposed (Descendants Series Book 3) by Lea Cherry – Review by Kerry Baker

Exposed (Descendants Series Book 3)Exposed by Lea Cherry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the final book in this series and it is a great fantasy story. For me it was all about the characters. I loved watching their development throughout the book and I felt like I became really invested in them. their growth really was fascinating to watch.
This is a new author to me and, although the final book of the series, I thought this book was a great way to be introduced to her. I enjoyed the writing style. The pace of the book was perfect and the story seemed to flow with ease. I will definitely be going back to read books 1&2 as well as checking out more of her work.

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Creatures of the Night by C.A. King – Review by Kerry Baker

Creatures of the NightCreatures of the Night by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always so excited to get my hands on a book by this author and this one is definitely no exception. I loved this story. It is different from anything the author has done before and it is a unique paranormal story. I was pulled into this book from the start and read it all in one sitting. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.
I enjoyed the character in this book too. I thought the author got the combination of them and the storyline perfect, each complimenting the other. This author is easily one of my favourites and I would urge everyone to read her books.

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What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

What Loretta's Katydid didWhat Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loretta is back with some more adventures and when she gets home from school this time, she has an unexpected visitor, her Grandma and she has not come empty handed, she has brought Loretta an orange tree and Loretta thinks that this is perfect, as she can use it for her science project. As her Grandma explains how to look after the tree, Loretta notices that it has some insects on it, her Grandma explain that they are aphids and that Loretta will need to kill them, or they will eat the tree, but Loretta doesn’t want to kill any insects and instead just watches them.

A couple of days later and the aphids have mysteriously disappeared, but Loretta can hear a strange noise “Katy did, Katy did” coming from the tree, when she goes to tell her Grandma, she is told that it is a Katydid, an insect which eats aphids, Loretta is happy about this, but not so much when the Katydid starts to feast on her tree instead!

What will happen to Loretta’s orange tree now the Katydid has moved in and will it survive long enough for Loretta to use it for her project? This is yet another charming and informative book for all ages, with lovely illustrations to go along with it.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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